Display container and method of forming same

ABSTRACT

A display container and a method of forming the same from a blank, including front and back walls, first and second side walls, and a bottom wall, at least one first projection having a first portion extending from the first side wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall and at least one second projection having a first portion extending from the second side wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall. The first projection having a portion extending from the first side wall extends towards the second side wall, and the second projection having a portion extending from the second side wall extends towards the first side wall. The projections are configured and aligned to maintain an item upright within the container

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to box blanks that form containers. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to box blanks that form containers for displaying items. The containers may each include walls and features that maintain packages in an upright position between the walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Merchants typically use a variety of displays for consumer goods. One type of display includes containers formed of a sheet of material, such as a box blank. In addition to being a low-cost option for organizing products on shelves, display containers formed from box blanks are easily stored when not in use.

Display containers formed from box blanks are commonly used in many markets, and particularly by merchants selling food. For example, a grocery store may choose to arrange packages of frozen food in a display container in a freezer to confine the food to a specific area of shelf space. It is therefore desirable to maintain products arranged in the display containers in a suitable position to provide consumers with the ability to visually identify the products and to easily purchase the products.

While display containers made from box blanks currently exist, one problem is that the display containers do not contain a structure for maintaining packages within the containers in an upright position. For example, a merchant may place multiple products, one behind the other, in an upright position in a display container, but as consumers remove each individual product from the container, the packages slide within the container, preventing the consumer from viewing the remaining product's or their packaging.

Therefore, there is a need in the container industry to provide a low cost, easily stored box blank that both forms a display container and includes features for maintaining each package in the container in an upright position, regardless of the number of packages arranged in the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display container for packages. It is another object of the present invention to provide a display container that includes front and back walls, first and second side walls, and a bottom wall, at least one first projection having a first portion extending from the first side wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall and at least one second projection having a first portion extending from the second side wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall. The first projection has a portion extending from the first side wall extends towards the second side wall, and the second projection has a portion extending from the second side wall extends towards the first side wall. The projections are configured and aligned to maintain an item in the container in an upright position between the first side wall and the second side wall without sliding.

Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The display container may comprise at least one third projection having a first portion extending from the back wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall. The front wall may have a height less than a height of the back wall. The front wall may include an opening providing access to an interior of the display container. The display container may include multiple projections each having a first portion extending from the first side wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall and multiple projections each having a first portion extending from the second side wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall. The item may be a package including, but not limited to, frozen vegetables and/or fruits.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of forming a display container from a sheet of material. The method includes forming a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, and a back wall relative to a bottom wall such that each of the first wall, the second wall, the front wall and the back wall extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall. When the first side wall and the second side wall are folded relative to the bottom wall, a plurality of projections are formed from the side walls, and each of the plurality of projections includes a portion that extends substantially perpendicular from the bottom wall.

Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The method may include forming the plurality of projections such that each have a first portion extending from the first side wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall and face another plurality of projections each having a first portion extending from the second wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall. The method may include when the back wall is folded relative to the bottom wall, at least one projection may be formed from the back wall, the at least one projection may include a first portion extending from the back wall and a second portion extending substantially perpendicular from the bottom wall. The method may include forming an opening in the front wall such that when the front wall is folded relative to the bottom wall, the opening provides access to an interior of the display container. The plurality of projections may form a plurality of pairs of facing cooperating projections. The method may include causing the plurality of pairs of facing cooperating projections to maintain a plurality of packages in an upright position in the display container.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a blank for forming a display container including areas forming a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall opposite the first side wall, a front wall and a back wall, wherein the first and second side walls and the front and back walls each extend from the bottom wall along a respective score line, and a plurality of pairs of slits cut therein. At least one of the plurality of pairs of slits extends from a point in the bottom wall to a point in the first side wall, at least one of the plurality of pairs of slits extends from a point in the bottom wall to a point in the second side wall, such that when the first side wall, the second side wall, and the back wall are folded relative to the bottom wall, a plurality of cooperating projections are formed.

The container of the invention is particularly useful for displaying and selling packages of frozen vegetables, such as spinach. The projections cause the remaining packages to stand upright and not slide when some packages are removed and purchased.

Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. At least one of the plurality of pairs of slits may extend from a point in the bottom wall to a point in the back wall. The blank may include at least one opening in the bottom wall that is configured to engage with a tab formed on an edge of a top portion of the front wall. The blank may include at least one opening in the first side wall and at least one opening in the second side wall, wherein the openings are configured to engage with respective tabs that are formed on edges of a top portion of the back wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present disclosure can be more readily understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plane view of a box blank according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a display container formed from the box blank of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of the display container of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a right side perspective view of the display container of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a left side perspective view of the display container of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure generally relates to box blanks and methods of forming box blanks into containers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to box blanks that, when folded, form containers configured to display items, such as packages of frozen food. Packages of frozen food, including, but not limited to, frozen vegetables and/or fruits, are displayed advantageously using the container and method of the invention. The packages of frozen food also may be shipped to retail stores in the containers, which are “shelf-ready.” It should be emphasized, however, that embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to display containers for particular products, and may also be utilized whenever storage or retention of an item in a desired location is necessary.

FIG. 1 illustrates a box blank 10 according to an exemplary embodiment. Box blank 10 may be a sheet of material having areas which may be configured to form a container. The sheet of material may be any flexible material known to those skilled in the art that may be configured to be folded. The sheet of material may also be of a suitable strength such that when the box blank 10 is formed into a container, the container may be configured to hold a package therein. In one embodiment, for example, the sheet of material may include cardboard or box board.

Box blank 10 may further include areas defining a front wall 12, a back wall 14, a bottom wall 20, a first side wall 16, and a second side wall 18. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the front wall 12, the back wall 14, the first side wall 16, and the second side wall 18 may each extend outwardly from the bottom wall 20. In addition, a respective score line (shown by dashed lines in FIG. 1) may separate the front wall 12, the back wall 14, the first side wall 16, and the second side wall 18 from the bottom wall 20.

Front wall 12 and back wall 14 may each extend any suitable distance from the bottom wall 20 such that when box blank 10 is folded to form a container, access may be provided into an interior of the container. In some embodiments, the front wall 12 and the back wall 14 may each extend the same distance outwardly from the bottom wall 20. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the front wall 12 may extend a distance from the bottom wall 20 that may be different from the distance that the back wall 14 extends from the bottom wall 20. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the front wall 12 may extend the distance from bottom wall 20 that is less than the distance that the back wall 14 extends from the bottom wall 20, such that when the box blank 10 is formed into a container, the front wall 12 has a height that is less than the height of the back wall 14. (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

In some embodiments, front wall 12 may include a top portion 12 a and a bottom portion 12 b. The top portion 12 a of the front wall 12 may be configured to be folded over the bottom portion 12 b. Alternatively, or in addition, in some embodiments, the back wall 14 may include a top portion 14 a and a bottom portion 14 b. The top portion 14 a of the back wall 14 may be configure to be folded over the bottom portion 14 b. As may be apparent during discussion in the latter part of the present disclosure about formation of the container, in some embodiments, the top portions 12 a, 14 a of the respective front and back walls 12, 14 may be folded over the respective bottom portions 12 b, 14 b, such that when the box blank 10 may be folded to form a container, the front and back walls 12, 14 may be configured to aid in maintaining the size, shape, and/or configuration of the container.

FIG. 1 illustrates that the first side wall 16 and the second side wall 18 may each include respective front flaps 16 a, 18 a and rear flaps 16 b, 18 b. The front flaps 16 a, 18 a and the rear flaps 16 b, 18 b may each extend from an end of the first and second side walls 16, 18. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a respective score line (dashed line) may be configured to separate each flap 16 a, 16 b, 18 a, 18 b from each respective side wall 16, 18. The front flaps 16 a, 18 a may be any desired size, shape, and/or configuration known to those skilled in the art. For example, each front flap 16 a, 18 a can include any desired number of edges to form any polygonal shape. In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 1, each front flap 16 a, 18 a may substantially form an L-shape. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when a container 100 is formed from the box blank 10, the L-shape of each front flap 16 a, 18 a may allow for an opening 40 to be formed in the front wall 12 of the container 100. The opening 40 may be configured to provide access to an interior of the container 100. The rear flaps 16 b, 18 b may also be any desired size, shape, and/or configuration known to those skilled in the art. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the rear flaps 16 b, 18 b may be substantially rectangular shaped.

The front flaps 16 a, 18 a may each include an edge 17, 19 extending along a side 13, 15 of the bottom portion 12 b of the front wall 12. FIG. 1 shows that a respective slit may separate the edges 17, 19 of the front flaps 16 a, 18 a from each respective side 13, 15 of the bottom portion 12 b of the front wall 12. The front flaps 16 a, 18 a may be configured to fold relative to each of the front wall 12 and the side walls 16, 18 such that when the front flaps 16 a, 18 a are folded along their respective score lines, the edges 17, 19 of the front flaps 16 a, 18 a are no longer along the same axis as the sides 13, 15 of the bottom portion 12 b of the front wall 12.

Similar to the front flaps 16 a, 18 a, the rear flaps 16 b, 18 b may each include an edge 21, 23 extending along a respective side 25, 27 of the bottom portion 14 b of the back wall 14. FIG. 1 shows that a respective slit may separate the edges 21, 23 of the rear flaps 16 b, 18 b from each respective side 25, 27 of the bottom portion 14 b of the back wall 14. When the rear flaps 16 b, 18 b are folded along their respective score lines (e.g., dashed lines) and relative to both the side walls 16, 18 and the bottom wall 20, the edges 21, 23 of the rear flaps 16 b, 18 b may no longer be along the same axis as the sides 25, 27 of the bottom portion 14 b of the back wall 14.

FIG. 1 further illustrates that the box blank 10 may include a plurality of slits 42, 44, 46 cut therein. As illustrated in FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the plurality of slits 42, 44, 46 may be positioned in pairs along a surface of the box blank 10. The plurality of slits 42, 44, 46 may be any suitable size, shape and/or configuration. In some embodiments, each pair of slits 42, 44, 46 may be sized and positioned such that each slit extends from a point on the bottom wall to a point on an adjacent wall (e.g., front wall 12, back wall 14, first side wall 16, second side wall 18). For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, each pair of slits 42, 44, 46 extends from a point on the bottom wall 20 to a point on one of the respective back wall 14, first side wall 16, and second side wall 18.

The pairs of slits 42, 44, 46 may be positioned such that when the front, back, and/or side walls 12, 14, 16, 18 are folded relative to the bottom wall 20 to a position where the front, back, and/or side walls 12, 4, 16, 18 extend orthogonal from the bottom wall 20, a plurality of projections 22, 24, 26 may be formed in the interior portion of the container (see FIGS. 2-5). The plurality of projections 22, 24, 26 may be formed such that each pair of slits 42, 44, 46 may be configured to form outer edges of a respective projection 22, 24, 26.

FIGS. 2-5 illustrate that the plurality of projections 22, 24, 26 may further be formed such that a first portion of each projection 22 a, 24 a, 26 a may extend substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 20 and a second portion of each projection 22 b, 24 b, 26 b may extend substantially perpendicular to the wall into which the respective pair of slits 42, 44, 46 extends. FIGS. 1-5 further illustrate that in some embodiments, each of the plurality of pairs of slits 42, 44 extending into the first and second walls 16, 18 may be positioned such that the plurality of projections 22 extending from the first side wall 16 form a plurality of cooperating pairs of facing projections with the plurality of projections 24 extending from the second side wall 18. In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example, the projections 22, 24 in each of the plurality of pairs may be directly opposite to one another. Each of the plurality of pairs of facing projections 22, 24 may be configured to maintain an item in an upright position within an interior of the container formed from the box blank 10.

FIGS. 2-5 illustrate that in some embodiments, at least one of the projections 26 may be configured to extend from the back wall 14. Similar to the pairs of facing projections 22, 24, the projection extending from the back wall 26 may be configured to aid in maintaining items in an upright position within the interior of the container formed by the box blank 10. For example, in some embodiments, the projection extending from the back wall 26 may be configured to support a back side of an item positioned in the container such that the item being supported by the projection extending from the back wall 26 may substantially be prevented from sliding within the container 100 and/or leaning against the back wall 14 of the container 100. It is noted that in some embodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, there may be two pairs of slits 42, 44 forming two projections 22, 24 extending from each of the side walls 16, 18 and one pair of slits 46 forming one projection 26 extending from the back wall 14. In other embodiments, any desired number of pairs of slits may extend from the bottom wall 20 into any of the adjacent walls forming any desired number of projections.

FIGS. 2-5 illustrate a front view, a back view, a right side perspective view, and a left side perspective view of a container 100 formed from the box blank 10 of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment. In some embodiments, the box blank 10 may include components that may be configured to aid in the formation of the container 100. For example, in some embodiments, surfaces of the box blank 10 may include suitable adhesive material that may be configured to aid in maintaining the shape of the container 100. Alternatively, or in addition, in some embodiments, the box blank 10 may be configured such that the container 100 may be formed without the aid of adhesive materials.

For example, FIG. 1 illustrates that the box blank 10 may include non-adhesive portions 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 for maintaining the side walls 16, 18 and the front and back walls 12, 14 in a position substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 20. FIG. 1 illustrates that the box blank 10 may include at least one bottom wall opening 32. The at least one bottom wall opening 32 may be positioned such that when the top portion 12 a of the front wall 12 is folded over the bottom portion 12 b of the front wall a tab 34 extending from an edge of the top portion 12 a of the front wall 12 may be configured to engage with the bottom wall opening 32. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the at least one bottom wall opening may be positioned adjacent to the score line extending between the bottom wall 20 and the bottom portion 12 b of the front wall 12.

FIG. 1 further illustrates that box blank 10 may include at least one first side wall opening 28 and at least one second side wall opening 30. The at least one first and second side wall openings 28, 30 may be positioned such that when the top portion 14 a of the back wall 14 is folded over the bottom portion 14 b of the back wall, first and second tabs 36, 38 extending from respective side edges of the top portion 14 a of the back wall 14 may be configured to engage with the respective first and second side wall openings 28, 30. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the first and second side wall openings 28, 30 may be positioned adjacent to the score line extending between the rear flaps 16 b, 18 b.

As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the container 100 may be formed by folding the first side wall 16, the second side wall 18, the front wall 12, and the back wall 14 relative to the bottom wall 20 such that each of the walls may extend substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 20. Formation of the container 100 may also include folding the front flaps 16 a, 18 a along their respective score lines such that each front flap 16 a, 18 a may be substantially perpendicular to its respective side wall 16, 18 and such that a portion of each front flap 16 a, 18 a may be configured to contact a surface of the front wall 12. The front flaps 16 a, 18 a may be positioned relative to the front wall 12 such that when the top portion 12 a of the front wall 12 is folded over the bottom portion 12 b of the front wall 12 and the tab 34 is engaged with the bottom wall opening 32, the position of the side walls 16, 18 and the position of the front wall 12 may be maintained relative to one another.

Formation of the container 100 may additionally include folding the rear flaps 16 b, 18 b along their respective score lines such that each rear flap 16 b, 18 b may be substantially perpendicular to its respective side wall 16, 18 and such that a portion of each front flap 16 b, 18 b may be configured to contact a surface of the back wall 14. The rear flaps 16 b, 18 b may be positioned relative to the back wall 14 such that when the top portion 14 a of the back wall 14 is folded over the bottom portion 14 b of the back wall 14 and each tab 36, 38 extending from the top portion 14 b of the back wall is engaged with a respective side wall opening 28, 30, the position of the side walls 16, 18 and the position of the back wall 14 may be maintained relative to one another. In some embodiments, the walls of the container 100 may be configured to maintain their position relative to one another via additional suitable connection means known to those skilled in the art including, but not limited to, staples and adhesives.

Formation of the container 100 may further include folding the side walls 16, 18 and the back wall 14 relative to the bottom wall 20 of the box blank 10 such that the plurality of projections 22, 24, 26 may be formed adjacent to an interior bottom surface of the container 100. After the container 100 is formed from the box blank 10, the plurality of pairs of projections 22, 24, 26 may be used to maintain a plurality of items in an upright position within the container 100. In some embodiments, for example, the plurality of items may include a plurality of packages. The packages may be configured to hold any object known to one skilled in the art, including, but not limited to, frozen foods, such as frozen vegetables and/or fruits.

The embodiments and examples above are illustrative, and many variations can be introduced to them without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended clams. For example, elements and/or features of different embodiments disclosed herein may be combined with each other and/or substituted with each other within the scope of this disclosure. The objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 

What is claimed:
 1. A display container, comprising: front and back walls, first and second side walls, and a bottom wall; at least one first projection having a first portion extending from the first side wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall; at least one second projection having a first portion extending from the second side wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall; and wherein the first projection having a portion extending from the first side wall extends towards the second side wall, and the second projection having a portion extending from the second side wall extends towards the first side wall, and wherein the projections are configured and aligned to maintain an item in the container in an upright position between the first side wall and the second side wall.
 2. The display container according to claim 1, wherein the front wall has a height less than a height of the back wall.
 3. The display container according to claim 1, wherein the front wall includes an opening providing access to an interior of the display container.
 4. The display container according to claim 1, further comprising at least one third projection having a first portion extending from the back wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall;
 5. The display container according to claim 1, further comprising multiple projections each having a first portion extending from the first side wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall and multiple projections each having a first portion extending from the second side wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall.
 6. The display container according to claim 1, wherein the item is a package of frozen vegetables and/or fruits.
 7. A method of forming a display container from a sheet of material, comprising: forming a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, and a back wall relative to a bottom wall such that each of the first wall, the second wall, the front wall and the back wall extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall, such that when the first side wall and the second side wall are folded relative to the bottom wall, a plurality of projections are formed from the side walls, wherein each of the plurality of projections includes a portion that extends substantially perpendicular from the bottom wall.
 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising forming the plurality of projections such that each have a first portion extending from the first side wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall and face another plurality of projections each having a first portion extending from the second wall and a second portion extending from the bottom wall.
 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein when the back wall is folded relative to the bottom wall, at least one projection is formed from the back wall, the at least one projection including a first portion extending from the back wall and a second portion extending substantially perpendicular from the bottom wall.
 10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising forming an opening in the front wall such that when the front wall is folded relative to the bottom wall, the opening provides access to an interior of the display container.
 11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of projections form a plurality of pairs of facing projections.
 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising causing the plurality of pairs of facing projections to cooperate to maintain a plurality of packages in an upright position in the display container.
 13. A blank for forming a display container, comprising: areas forming a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall opposite the first side wall, a front wall and a back wall, wherein the first and second side walls and the front and back walls each extend from the bottom wall along a respective score line; and a plurality of pairs of slits cut therein wherein at least one of the plurality of pairs of slits extends from a point in the bottom wall to a point in the first side wall, and at least one of the plurality of pairs of slits extends from a point in the bottom wall to a point in the second side wall, such that when the first side wall, the second side wall, and the back wall are folded relative to the bottom wall, a plurality of cooperating projections are formed.
 14. The blank according to claim 13, further comprising at least one opening in the bottom wall that is configured to engage with a tab formed on an edge of a top portion of the front wall.
 15. The blank according to claim 13, further comprising at least one opening in the first side wall and at least one opening in the second side wall, wherein the openings are configured to engage with respective tabs that are formed on edges of a top portion of the back wall.
 16. The blank according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of pairs of slits extends from a point in the bottom wall to a point in the back wall.
 17. An assemblage, comprising: a display container according to claim 1, and one or more packages maintained upright in the container.
 18. An assemblage according to claim 17, wherein the packages contain frozen vegetables and/or fruits. 